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Inspector Gadget – The Kitchen Tools You Need to Have

Every kitchen has a cupboard to hide away the evidence of failed culinary experimentation. These presses are usually home to complicated food processors, overly specific utensils and other assorted equipment that promised to make life in the kitchen easier but ended up forgotten, gathering dust in the back of the cupboard.

So, how do you know when a gadget is worth it? This will vary from person to person depending on the cuisine they like to cook and the ingredients required but we have rustled up some fantastic kitchen gadgets that should make cooking easier and fun!

Kitchen Gadgets Potato Ricer
Imagine a garlic crusher, only bigger. The search for the perfect mash is a lumpy affair, but by putting your potatoes through a ricer you are making your mash light and creamy without having to add a heart attack inducing amount of butter. This gadget is used on a weekly basis in my house and is also great for squashing up other vegetables for soups and purées. €34.99 Home Store + More

 

Pizza Scissors1 Pizza Scissors
It is incredibly infuriating when you are dining in someone else’s home and they don’t have the correct equipment or utensils to serve it. Pizza was made to be eaten slice by slice a la the Italians, do not make me cut it with a knife and fork. I will however use a convenient slicer or this amazing scissors/spatula thing. €17 Shopireland.ie

 

Spiraliser Spiraliser
Definitely one for vegetable fans or the health conscious cook, a spiraliser is the must have gadget of 2015. That does mean plenty of them will end up hibernating in a press but if salads and stir fries are popular in your house then this is an affordable gadget that will give your food a quirky element. €40 Brown Thomas

 

Cook's Torch Blowtorch
Not just a way to finish off your crème brûlées, the handy little torches are also great for crisping up Spanish omelettes, browning meringues and melting marshmallows and chocolate. Honestly you will find yourself making excuses to use it for everything, making sure it is not resigned to the back of a drawer. €43.99 Kitchencookware.ie

 

Kitchen AidKitchen Aid
The first Great British Bake Off scandal of 2015 occurred over the show replacing the trusty Kitchen Aid mixers for a Kenwood version. This is a divisive issue for home chefs as brand loyalty can go back generations but whether you are on team Kitchen Aid or not, a good quality mixer can make the world of difference to so many cooking processes. Keep it simple though, and choose one that is easy to clean. €585 Debenhams

 

Ice Cream MakerIce Cream Maker
A must have gadget if you have small ones in the house. So many ice creams are packed full of sugar and artificial ingredients so making your own is a handy way of ensuring the freezer is full of nice treats without the guilt. It is worth noting before you pop it on your Christmas list that Kitchen Aid sell an ice cream making attachment. But that is definitely not brand favouritism. €59.99 Arnotts

 

CorkscrewCorkscrew
How many times have you broken a cork with a cheap plastic corkscrew? Quality is key here and investing makes the process so much easier. We like this Le Creuset model which is guaranteed to last for 2,000 bottles. Challenge accepted. €97 Brown Thomas

 

Cheese BoardCheeseboard with Wire
Of course you can just use a knife for your cheeseboard and there are plenty of lovely sets available out there but if you are a cheese fan you need a board with a wire. The novelty alone makes it worth having and it is better than cleaning all the knives. You can also pretend you are a giant cheesemonger. €15.99 Oxendales.ie

 

Smoking GunSmoking Gun
Here at TheTaste we are all over the current dining trends so believe us when we tell you that smoked produce is not going away any time soon. If you want to impress your guests, a handy smoking gun will do the trick, adding gorgeous depth and flavour to meats, fish, cheeses and even cocktails. €71.99 Sousvide.ie

 

Dough CutterDough Cutter & Scraper
This simple little gadget is not just for baking purposes. Sure you can use it to divide your loaves but it is also handy for scooping up herbs and other chopped up ingredients. Unless you are a pro and can scoop up all your diced veg with your knife, the scraper makes it easier and cleaner. It can also help in Winter to defrost your windshield. Multitasking points. €6.99 Kitchencookware.ie

 

Pasta MachinePasta Machine
Nothing beats fresh pasta and it is so easy to make. Pasta machines are very affordable, easy to clean and so much fun. With just a couple of tools you have the ability to create loads of different pastas and the kids will love getting their hands dirty! €62 Debenhams

 

MandolineMandoline
Unless you have the knife skills of Jamie Oliver a mandolin is a great investment for your kitchen. Particularly good for slicing awkwardly shaped vegetables, a mandolin is easy to maintain and quick to use. Just mind your fingers! €73.95 Arnotts

 

Meat HammerMeat Hammer
If you have a house full of carnivores then you will appreciate tender meat. A pounder or tenderiser is particularly handy in the Summer for BBQ season, but is useful all year round as your meat will absorb marinades better and take less time to cook. €6 IKEA

 

Salad SpinnerSalad Spinner
Nobody wants soggy lettuce but sometimes you have to give your leaves a rinse. Instead of waiting for ages for your salad to dry, or patting it down with kitchen paper, just pop it in the spinner and you are ready in no time at all. €7.25 Debenhams

 

Herb RockerHerb Rocker
If you are happy to save time and use herbs from a packet then don’t invest in this! A ‘mezzaluna’ is for cooks who like to use fresh herbs and spices and either lack the skills or can’t be bothered to use a knife. Perfect for large leaves, smaller sprigs and blending ingredients, a rocker is fun, quick and easy to clean. €34 Brown Thomas

 

Roast TongsRoast Cutting Tongs
Just look at the picture. Do we even need to explain why this is possibly the best invention ever? Purists like your nan won’t like it, but for those who aren’t great at carving (like me) the roast tongs will ensure straight and even slices of meat. Also pretty useful as a regular tongs so it is a multipurpose gadget. £20.69 Amazon.co.uk

Garlic Gadgets – Peeler, Crusher, Rocker
If you are the type of cook who loves using garlic then you will understand the pain of peeling cloves and cleaning out a crusher. These handy gadgets will speed up your garlic prep, your washing up time and help you keep vampires away. €4.95 Kitchenessence.ie, €25 designist, €13.95 Arnotts

Fruity Gadgets – Cherry Pitter, Pineapple Corer, Strawberry Huller
There is a large range of gadgets and accessories you can get for streamlining your fruit preparation process. Depending on your preferences some of this will end up sitting in the drawer but they all ensure you can enjoy your favourite fruits without the nasty bits. €15 Debenhams, €9.99 Kitchencookware.ie, €10.25 Debenhams

 

ARTICLE BY ALISON DALY

BioAlison has been writing since she could hold a pen, which came in handy for her degree in English, Media and Cultural Studies. She has been working in media since graduating and is the latest features writer for TheTaste.

Writing for TheTaste allows her to combine her passion for the written word with her love of food and drink. Find her on Twitter @AliDalyo

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